Scanty Rain as Plantation Time Runs Out

Northern dists see little hope for aman target

28 July 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Nilphamari

Farmers transplanting aman saplings at Kalikapur village in Patuakhali Sadar upazila following the latest shower. However, the northern districts, where a draught-like situation had prevailed for the last several weeks, did not get enough rain this time too. Photo: STAR

Although different parts of the country including the capital has seen heavy shower during the last two days, farmers in eight northern districts are still waiting for rain required to meet the target of aman cultivation. However, about a total of 900 millimetre rainfall during the last four days in eight northern districts -- Rangpur, Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Nilphamari -- has made it possible to transplant aman saplings at places. It comprises about 2.65 lakh hectares of land or 25% of the target area. Earlier in this month, the farmers of this region transplanted aman on about 1.10 lakh hectares of land using irrigation water extracted by deep tube-wells and shallow pumps run by diesel or electricity. The area of land transplanted with aman saplings now reaches 3.75 lakh hectares of land constituting 36-37% of the target set by AED in the region. Last year a total of 4376 millimetre rainfall was recorded in this region in July while the amount in the same month this year stands at 1,988 (including the recent rainfall). The Agricultural Extension Department (AED) set a target to cultivate aman on 10.5lakh hectares of land to produce 23 lakh tonnes of rice in the eight districts. AED sources said about 60% of lands, mostly of high and medium quality, are still lying uncultivated. “The farmers are out to achieve the cultivation target using deep tube-wells and shallow pumps. Besides, the Met office has forecast further rain,” said Yunus Ali, the deputy director of Nilphamari AED. “July and the first week of August is the peak period for transplanting aman saplings. If it does not rain sufficiently during the period, aman production will be hampered,” the DD of Rangpur AED earlier said. With around ten days of the peak period of amon cultivation left, farmers of the region are in apprehension about achieving target set by the AED if there is not expected rainfall in a short time.